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- EIN 27-1219231
- info@sowhatelse.org
- 2406020486
- 1 Preserve Pkwy Suite 150 Rockville MD 20852 USA
- sowhatelse.org
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- sowhatelsehelps
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Children & Youth, Leadership Development, Philanthropy, Voluntarism Promotion, Youth Development
Mission: So What Else was founded on the simple desire to do good and we continue to follow that path. However, with the onset of COVID-19, the ensuing pandemic, and school closures, we adjusted our program in March to meet the needs of our student, families, and whole communities - hunger. These issues pivoted our mission to include both emergency hunger relief and youth development in order to continue serving our students. As of October 15th over 5,000,000 million meals have been served to communities across Montgomery County, Washington DC, and Baltimore! The include more than 80 communities in need - from Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, DC, Baltimore, Howard County and Anne Arundel County all served since March. However, we still continue to provide a tripod of service, now on a remote basis, these include: 1. To provide out of school time educational and creative programming to under-served youth 2. To promote volunteerism, provide resources and service to other community organizations 3. To mobilize the youth we serve to, in return, pay it forward through community service Our primary goal is to continue expanding our after-school and summer programs to children who do not otherwise have access to extracurricular enrichment activities without programs such as ours. The diverse curriculum fosters academic achievement, inspires community engagement, teaches teamwork and empathy, nurtures a healthy lifestyle, engenders a sense of well-being and self-efficacy, and promotes environmental stewardship.
Results: As of October 15th over 5,000,000 million meals have been served to communities across Montgomery County, Washington DC, and Baltimore! These include more than 80 communities in need - from Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, DC, Baltimore, Howard County and Anne Arundel County all served since March. In addition to meals, the following items have also been given to those in need: • Over 56,000 sanitation supplies, masks and hand sanitizer supplied to communities • More than 21,000 educational supplies handed out to support remote learning • In excess of over 167,000 diapers, wipes and baby food handed out to families • Greater than 74,000 pounds of clothes So What Else continues to serve over 4,500 youth from Washington DC to Baltimore. Something we are extremely proud of.
Target demographics: At-risk youth and those challenged by hunger due to the ongoing pandemic
Direct beneficiaries per year: Over 3,500 at risk youth through our programs
Geographic areas served: Washington DC; Baltimore, MD; Prince Georges County, MD; Montgomery County, MD
Programs: How We Help: • To respond to the ongoing pandemic by providing over almost 5 million meals to those in need • So What Else’s out of school time programs fill the gaps that are left by underfunded school systems providing lessons and activities that supplement, enrich and reinforce children’s learning in the classroom. • We help children reach their greatest potentials through opening new pathways to learning. Students participate in lessons, activities and disciplines that they typically wouldn’t be exposed to. Supporting their development in becoming well rounded and engaged future citizens. • 34% of children under 14 go unsupervised from the time the school bell rings, until their parents get home from work, So What Else provides a safe place for children to spend after school hours and fill that time with enriching programs such as Olympiad Sports, Expressive Arts and Integrative Wellness. • So What Else’s volunteer branch promotes community engagement by connecting volunteers to participate in rewarding projects and initiatives in the DC metro area. • Our students are encouraged to “Pay It Forward” by participating in service projects, allowing them to take pride in being able to give back to their community. • So What Else hosts high school and college interns allowing budding youth advocates a chance to learn and grow alongside our children. Many of the interns are working to become the next generation of psychologists, educators and youth development professionals. • So What Else’s chapter in Baltimore is the catalyst in joining together several community organizations. The summer camp alone brings our core services to children in desperately needed neighborhoods by providing programs to those who would otherwise not have access while school is not in session. • We offer youth rich and rewarding out of school time programming, guided by our value system: "The Ten Pillars of So What Else.” 1. Teamwork and Sportsmanship 2. Non-violence 3. Youth Empowerment 4. Leave No Trace 5. Positivity 6. Creativity 7. Be True to Yourself 8. Civic Duty 9. Compassion 10. Constant Growth Population(s) Served: • K-12 (5-19 years) • At-risk youth